Europe’s Spaceport: Recap of 2024 and outlook for 2025

2024 was a decisive year for launches at Europe’s Spaceport. Ariane 6 reached a key milestone with its long-awaited launch on 9 July, marking a turning point for the future of Europe's space industry. Five more lift-offs are planned for 2025, including the first commercial flight, currently scheduled for 26 February.

Vega-C’s return to flight on 5 December 2024 was also a major event, attesting to the reliability and competitiveness of the Vega family of launch vehicles. This year also saw the final Vega flight, on 4 September 2024, marking the end of an important chapter for the programme. Four Vega-C flights are slated for 2025.

A number of crucial missions will thus be lifting off from Europe’s Spaceport in 2025, such as:

-    the CSO-3 observation satellite on behalf of the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) and the French Space Agency, for the French Air and Space Force’s Space Command (CDE);

-    the first part of American firm Amazon's Kuiper constellation, developed to provide a global broadband access service;

-    the Biomass satellite, which will make it possible to accurately assess the impact of forests on the carbon cycle and climate change;

-    MicroCarb, which will be able to map the sources and sinks of the main greenhouse gas, CO2, on a global scale;

-    CO3D (Earth observation), small satellites that will map the globe in 3D from low orbit.

The BalMan manoeuvring balloon, designed and built under the direction of the French Space Agency, took off from Europe’s Spaceport for the first time at the end of October, demonstrating Europe’s Spaceport's capacity to accommodate a variety of space vehicles. A second flight is planned for the end of 2025.

The firing test for the new P160C engine, a development of the current engine used on Ariane 6 and Vega-C, will take place in the first half of 2025.

Finally, the sounding rocket site at Europe’s Spaceport will also see the launch of the “Mésange” suborbital demonstrator with its 3D-printed heat shield, developed by the start-up Opus Aerospace supported by the French Space Agency.

Europe’s Spaceport continues to be upgraded, with the aim of becoming a multi-operator Spaceport that is more attractive, competitive and environmentally-friendly.

The many projects that came to fruition this year include the newly inaugurated Galmot building and the future Operations Centre (CDO), the first stone of which was laid in September.

The fully renovated Galmot building, accommodating Europropulsion, now meets today's environmental challenges by optimising its energy consumption while adapting to the changing needs of operational assignments.

The laying of the foundation stone for the CDO (Operations Centre) marked a turning point in the progress of that project. It is part of Europe’s Spaceport’s New Generation programme, with the aim of optimising its operational performance. It will host operational teams and strategic systems in a single space. Delivery scheduled for late 2026.

Construction of the first solar farm has been completed. Next stage: integration into the site's power network. Eventually, three solar-power plants will produce a portion of the electricity required by Europe’s Spaceport. All of the energy produced will be entirely self-consumed, meeting 15% of the Spaceport's power needs. A second solar farm will be built in 2026.

At the same time, the BSB (Booster Storage Building) was delivered in the final quarter of 2024. On 3 December, it received its first two boosters for the second Ariane 6. This new building will eventually contribute to accelerating the launch rate.

On the former Diamant launch pad, work to accommodate the Callisto re-usable demonstrator will begin at the end of the second half of 2025. The French Space Agency will then begin building the sites that will host the micro/mini-launchers.

Guyaspace Expérience is also one of the many examples of the transformation taking place at Europe’s Spaceport. After 18 months of renovation, the former space museum has given way to a fully interactive and immersive interpretation centre.

The upgrade projects have won acclaim beyond the borders of France and Europe with the Aviation Week Laureate Awards.
 

Europe’s Spaceport has strengthened its local roots with a number of flagship events. One of the highlights of the year was the Olympic flame passing through in June. It journeyed through Europe’s Spaceport, an emblematic site in French Guiana. Many of you joined us for this event, which featured a variety of fun and sporting activities.

The TV game show Guyane: l'Odyssée de l'Espace, broadcast from 4 October to 8 November on the Guyane la 1ère channel, celebrated the 60th anniversary of Europe’s Spaceport and the arrival of Ariane 6. Well done to all the participants from every municipality in French Guiana and to the winner of this first show from Régina. For those who missed the original broadcast, the replay is still available.

Another memorable moment was the inaugural flight of Ariane 6 on 9 July 2024, which we celebrated with you in Roura, Sinnamary, Kourou and Cayenne.

Since reopening on 26 July, Guyaspace Expérience has become a popular place for visitors to (re)discover the history of the space industry in French Guiana with family and friends. If you haven't visited yet, don't delay - book your ticket now.

The “Space and Biodiversity” day on 7 December provided an opportunity to showcase and explore the links between space activities and the protection of biodiversity at Europe’s Spaceport.

Finally, in 2025, we will also be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the creation of the European Space Agency (ESA), a key moment when the Guiana Space Centre became Europe's Spaceport.